Sudden Departure

No need to crop this one, sandhill cranes have a big wingspan. Also, I tried adding my 1.4x converter for a bit more reach, which made them larger in the frame. Using the converter seems like a double edge sword though because it reduces the aperture, forcing a slower shutter (or higher iso). But the conditions were bright today, so that helped.

I was busy creeping up on ducks when I spotted the cranes walking towards the inlet. I don't know what spooked them, perhaps an egret which I also saw earlier. Anyway, so glad to have caught them in flight, not easy to track them with a long lens and get them in focus.